War on Terrorism

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Emanuel L. Lutchman, 25, was arrested and charged by
criminal complaint with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic
State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist
organization.The charge carries a maximum
penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The announcement was made by Assistant Attorney General for
National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. of the
Western District of New York and Special Agent in Charge Adam S. Cohen of the
Federal Investigation Bureau’s (FBI) Buffalo Division.

“According to the complaint, as part of Emanuel Lutchman’s
attempt to provide material support to ISIL, he planned to kill innocent
civilians on New Year’s Eve in the name of the terrorist organization.” said
Assistant Attorney General Carlin.“Thankfully, law enforcement was able to intervene and thwart Lutchman's
deadly plans.”

“This New Year’s Eve prosecution underscores the threat of
ISIL even in upstate New York but demonstrates our determination to immediately
stop any who would cause harm in its name,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul.“What began as an ISIL directive to harm the community
ended with the arrest of this defendant and a message for any other individuals
considering similar behavior - you will be caught, you will be prosecuted, and
you will be punished.While law
enforcement is well equipped for such investigations, the public is reminded to
remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.I assure members of the public that the
excellent work of our law enforcement partners with the cooperation of the
public is the best way to ensure the safety of our community.”

“The FBI thwarted Emanuel Lutchman’s intent to kill
civilians on New Year's Eve,” said Special Agent in Charge Cohen.“The FBI remains concerned about people
overseas who use the Internet to inspire people in the United States to commit
acts of violence where they live.”

According to court records, the defendant, claiming to
receive direction from an overseas ISIL member, planned to commit an armed
attack against civilians at a restaurant/bar located in the Rochester, New
York, area today, New Year’s Eve on behalf of ISIL and in furtherance of his
plan to join ISIL overseas.

The defendant made an initial appearance this morning before
U.S. Magistrate Judge Marian W. Payson of the U.S. Western District of New
York.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Rochester Joint
Terrorism Task Force (JTTF).The case is
being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett A. Harvey with the assistance
of Trial Attorney Lawrence Schneider of the National Security Division’s
Counterterrorism Section.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is
merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless
proven guilty.

SOUTHWEST ASIA, December 31, 2015 — U.S. and coalition
military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent
Resolve officials reported today.

Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting
that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

-- Near Sinjar, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and
destroyed an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL fighting position and suppressed an ISIL
mortar position and a light machine gun position.

Task force officials define a strike as one or more kinetic
events that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single,
sometimes cumulative, effect. Therefore, officials explained, a single aircraft
delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is a strike, but so is
multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against buildings, vehicles and
weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of
making those targets harder or impossible for ISIL to use. Accordingly,
officials said, they do not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a
strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of
individual munition impact points against a target.

Part of Operation Inherent Resolve

The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent
Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat
they pose to Iraq, Syria, and the wider international community. The
destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the group's
ability to project terror and conduct operations.

Coalition nations conducting strikes in Iraq include the
United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the
Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations conducting strikes in
Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan,
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

SOUTHWEST ASIA, December 30, 2015 — U.S. and coalition
military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent
Resolve officials reported today.

Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting
that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

-- Near Albu Hayat, a strike destroyed an ISIL tactical
vehicle and an ISIL vehicle.

-- Near Hit, a strike struck an ISIL vehicle bomb storage
facility.

Task force officials define a strike as one or more kinetic
events that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes
cumulative, effect. Therefore, officials explained, a single aircraft
delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is a strike, but so is
multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against buildings, vehicles and
weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of
making those targets harder or impossible for ISIL to use. Accordingly,
officials said, they do not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a
strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of
individual munition impact points against a target.

Part of Operation Inherent Resolve

The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent
Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat
they pose to Iraq, Syria, the region, and the wider international community.
The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist
group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said.

Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Iraq
include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands,
the United Kingdom and the United States. Coalition nations that have conducted
strikes in Syria include Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, Saudi
Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United
States.